Reward
How the brain prepares for gains and losses using EEG and fMRI
Open access · cc by · source: Europe PMC
The brain's anticipation of winning or losing money relies on a shared motivational system rather than separate reward and loss networks.
Key findings
Both gain and loss anticipation triggered similar activity in the ventral striatum and produced similar reaction times. Larger P300 wave amplitudes were significantly correlated with stronger BOLD responses in the ventral striatum for both gain and loss conditions, with correlations ranging from 0.420 to 0.767. In contrast, the slower CNV wave did not show any significant correlation with ventral striatum activity.
Methodology
The researchers tested 25 healthy, right-handed participants across separate EEG and fMRI sessions separated by an average of 50 days. During both sessions, participants completed a task where they saw visual cues signaling a potential gain of 2 euros, a potential loss of 2 euros, or a neutral outcome of 0 euros before responding quickly to a target. The team measured electrical brain responses (such as P300 and CNV waves) and BOLD signals in the ventral striatum to analyze how they relate.
Limitations
First, because EEG and fMRI data were collected in separate sessions rather than simultaneously, the study cannot rule out differences in the participants' mood or alertness between the separate test days. Second, because the study only measured blood flow and electrical scalp activity, it cannot provide direct evidence of dopamine release, even though the authors suspect dopaminergic pathways are involved. Finally, the small sample of 25 young, healthy participants restricts the generalizability of these findings to clinical populations.
How this study connects
Role on claims
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Fluctuations in the amplitude of the P300 wave during reward and loss anticipation are significantly correlated with blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) responses in the ventral striatum, indicating that cortical attention markers reflect subcortical motivational states.
Evidence for the claim as stated.
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